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Is there
really such a thing as the “perfect” body measurements for a woman? And what is
perfect anyway, isn’t it a subjective term? Well, not exactly! To
believe that perfection is subjective is to believe that beauty is subjective.

Let’s see
the definition of beauty, by oxforddictionaries.com: A combination of
qualities, such as shape, color, or form that pleases the aesthetic senses,
esp. the sight. This means
that beauty is “that which when perceived; pleases.” And most people agree on
what is pleasurable to look at and what is appalling to look at. A deformed
face will cause an instinctive feeling of repulsion in most people. The face of
Grace Kelly, on the other hand, will cause feelings of awe and admiration. Even
though there is some variation on what people find beautiful, this doesn’t
negate the fact that beauty is largely objective.

So, what
does make a body beautiful? Here are
the 3 most important measurements:

Waist Circumference

Ideal waist
circumference = height x 0.382

Don’t
measure your waist at the navel. Your natural waist is at the narrowest point of
your torso, underneath the rib cage. When the waist is 38% of height, it is
considered ideal, but even numbers up to 43% are very good. However, if your
waist is more than 50% of your height, then you should be alarmed, not only for
aesthetic, but also for health reasons.

Shoulder
circumference

Ideal
shoulder circumference = ideal waist measurement x 1.618

This
measurement should be taken at widest point in shoulders, at ‘about armpit
level’. A shoulder circumference that is about 61-62% of your height is a good indicator
of overall muscle mass and can make you look toned, without creating a
masculine look.

What is
more, an ideal shoulder circumference can partly make up for the lack of
breasts. Just take a look at this picture.

At first
glance, Raquel Welch looks pretty busty at this picture. But, if you take a
closer look you will realise that he breasts are not particularly big. Her
perfect shoulder circumference adds some volume to her upper body and creates a
beautiful contrast with her slim waist.

Hip Circumference

Ideal hip
circumference = ideal waist measurement x 1.42

This
measurement is taken at the widest point of the buttocks. Your waist and hip circumference
make up your waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). There are many scientific studies that
show that a low waist-hip ratio (WHR) is an important measure of female
attractiveness. For example, in this study men were asked to rate front-posed
photographs of the same woman at different breast sizes and waist-to-hip ratios.Men rated the
images with a small waist and an hourglass shape as most attractive,
irrespective of breast size.

So, now
that you know how to determine the perfect measurements, the next step is to
find out how to get them. In most cases, it’s not enough to just lose weight. You
may also have to add a little muscle in specific body areas, because muscle dictates
a large part of your shape.